Device for opening containers



Feb. 6, 1934. H. s. DARLINGTON DEVICE FOR OPENING CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 22, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1934- H. s. DARLINGTON DEVICE FOR OPENING CONTAiNERS 22, '1950 2 SheecsSheet 2 filed Oct.

f fery faalwb'jbg god 4 ya Patented Feb. 6, 1934 1,945,885 DEVICE FOR OPENING CONTAINERS Henry Saulnier Darlington, Media, Pa... assignor to A. H. Wirz, 1110., Chester, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application October 22, 1930. Serial No. 490,445

I 18 Claims. (Cl. 221-60) My invention relates to devices for opening filled containers, the invention having perhaps its widest application in containers extruded from metal in the way that the familiar shaving cream tubes are made.

particularly to containers for holding and distributing any predetermined definite quantity or quantities of one or more materials that may be for use in cooking, medicine or the like, the dis- 1 pensing materials being loose or comminuted solids, semi-liquids such as cosmetic pastes or even liquids.

A purpose of my invention is to open a container wide enough for discharge by a single straight pulL A further purpose is to provide the discharge" end of a container which has been closed by folding its walls with a pull tab includedin the fold and having a portion accessible to the grasp of the user, and desirably to locate a spreader for the walls on the inner end of the tab.

A further purpose is to close a wall spreader inside a charged flexible walled container at the inner'end ofa pull tab which has an outer end outside the container, so that a user may widely open the discharge end of the container by using the tab to pull out the spreader.

A further purpose is to scrape the interior ,folded walls of a container during opening.

I may place the spreader, desirably a short piece of wood, in the fold of a tab doubled on itself, locating the fold of. the tab and the included wood inside the charged container and then tolding an intermediate'portionof the extending ends of the tab with the open end of the container to eiiect closure.

A further purpose is to divide a container into a plurality of compartments, each to receive a predetermined charge, and to use a single pull tab for opening the compartments successively.

A further purpose is to-separate a tubular container into a plurality of compartments by an intermediate seal or seals and to place individual pull tabs in the folded outer ends so that either end compartment may be easily opened without disturbing the seal oi! the other.-

A further purpose is to seal any desired number of ingredients, such as medicine to be mixed 50 by the user, .in a one-piececontainer separated into compartments for the different materials by pressing the container walls together intermediate adjacent compartments, before or after charging and providing one or both or the end compartments with a tab opener adapted to open My invention relates the end compartment by merely pulling out the tab.

A further purpose is to form a pull tab as an extension from the walls of a container.

A further purpose is to provide one tubular so I end of an extruded metal container with a transverse extruded bottom closure as distinguished from a closure efiected by compressing and folding the open-tubular end. P

Further purposes'will appear in the specifica 66 tion and in the claims.

I have elected to show afew only of the many different forms of my invention, selecting forms that are practical and eflicient-in operation and which well illustrate the principles involved. N 4 Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a charged container ready for folding after having my pull tab inserted in the open end and the-sides of theopen end pressed together upon the tab.

Figure 1a is a fragmentary side elevation of the tube seen in Figure 1.

Figures 2 and 3 are views corresponding to Figure 1 but showing progressively different stages of the closure, the container being Iully closed in Figure 3. r l 8 Figure 4 is a section taken upon the line4- 4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section corresponding in position to Figure 1 of a modified form showing a double container provided w'tih a single pull tab by means of which a user may open the first compartment without needing to disturb the seal of the second, opening the second compartment at any de-. sired subsequent time.

Figures 6 to 14 illustrate a difierent form in which the pull tab is integral with the mate--' rial of the container, Figure 6 being a reduced scale top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 7.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary. section taken upon the line 7-7 of Figure 6 on an enlarged scale and Figures 8 to13 are views corresponding'to I Figure 7 but showing progressively advanced stages of closure, the structure being fullyclosed 10 in Figure 13. 7

Figure 14 is a section taken upon the line 14-1 01' Figure 6.

Figure 15 is a top plan view of a form of dispenser particularly suited for medicines.

Figure 16 is a vertical section taken upon the line 16-16 of Figure 15.

Figure 17 is a longitudinal section in the plane oi. the tab 01 the container shown in Figure. 15 preparatory to charging or closure. no

, definite number of cups.

.fold of the tab and within tube (Figure 19) or may enlargement on the inner Figure 18 is a section upon the line 18-18 of Figure 17.

Figure 19 is a longitudinal section corresponding generally to Figure 16 but showing a plurality of compartments within an integral container with the end compartments provided with individual opening tabs.

Like numerals refer to like parts in all figures.

Describing in illustration and not in limitation and referring to the drawings:-

My opening and spreading device is applicable to any container having flexible walls which are sealed by folding. Since the best application of which I know is in extruded metal containers, I illustrate these, without of course intending to limit my invention.

The embodiment of my Figures 1 to 4 is particularly well adapted to holding tea or the like, each container being charged with any predetermined quantity, as for example tea in the right amount for making a desired The container 20 as illustrated is preferably made of extruded metal and preferably open at one end only, the extrusion operation then producing a bag-like container closed at one end 21 and open at the other end 22.

In Figure l the container 20 has received its charge of tea or the like through the open end 22 and a pull tab 23, illustrated as a piece of paper, doubled upon'itself around a spreader 24, has been inserted part way into the container with the tab ends extending out at 25 beyond the ends of the container and the spreader 24 inside the the container.

The spreader 24 may desirably comprise a short piece of wood (Figures 1-4) or a short metal be of any suitable material substantially inert to the contents of the container. I After, the spreader and-pull tab have been inserted and the open end pressed together upon the tab to the position shown in Figure l, the end is folded on itself to the position shown at 26 in Figure 2, after which one or more additional folds are provided as illustrated at 27 in Figure 3.

I regard the direction and number of folds of the container walls and tab as immaterial to the broader aspects of my invention, although they are important to insure a tight seal, such as would be needed with liquids and deliquescent substances.

The pull tab may desirably be coated with paraflin or the like to effect a more perfect seal.

The spreader 24 should preferably be of size adequate to separate the opposite walls of the container end well apart when the user pulls out the tab, in order to permit easy discharge of the contents. Its function may beserved by any end of the tab.

The length of the spreader 24 must be less than half of the circumference of the container by an amount approximating the width of the spreader 24. Thus in Figure 4 the spreader 24 is shorter than half of the container circumfer'ence at 28, and the tab is correspondingly narrow at that point. At 29 however, where only the tab lies between the container walls, the tab may be desirably wider, leaving tapering edges 30 which insure a tight seal between the tab and the container.

It is, of course, obvious that the container may be made of .a size to contain any desired quantity of the material and, while the container isparticinvention illustrated in v iect s from the ularly convenient for holding and delivering a sin gle predetermined definite charge, it is also well adapted to use with larger quantities. The user may then employ the pull tab and spreader over and over, taking out any desired small quantity at each opening and resealing the container with my opening device, each time putting the spreader back in place, closing the end upon the tab, and folding it over and over, leaving the tab ends projecting for easy opening the next time material is needed from the container.

I often find it desirable to divide the container into a plurality of compartments, each to deliver a predetermined definite charge, the different compartments to hold the same material or different materials, for use at the same or different times.

I illustrate one embodiment of this form in Figure 5, where the container includes an end compartment 31 and one or more additional compartments 32, with a double pull tab 33 which loops around a spreader 24 within the end compartment, is folded at 34, 34' with the opposing walls of the container intermediate the compartments to seal one compartment from the other and is provided with slack at 35 in the compartment 32 in'order to permit outward movement of the spreader 36 attachedto the pull tab at the discharge end of .the compartment, without disturbing the portion of the tab in the more rear-ward compartment.

It will be seen that the compartments are-provided with individual spreaders suitably attached to the common pull tab whose outer end 3'7 prolast compartment.

As shown in Figures 6 to 14 I may use a tab .38 extending from one side of the open end of a container as a pull tab.

This tab may be produced by making the con tainer of increased length and cutting off one side 1 of the container wall for the length of the extension.- I prefer to extrude both container andtab as integral parts of the composite container.

For opening the container folds it is of small consequence just how the tab-is folded provided it is included in the fold of the container walls and extends far enough at the outside so that the user may grasp it. However, by the method of folding here shown I obtain not only an unwrapping of the folds, but also a spreading of the walls by lever action of the tab extension.

The tab 38.is first bent at 39 (Figure 8), and then folded over itself as at 40 within the mouth of I the container (Figure 9), after which the mouth of the container is closed (Fig'ure 10).

The tab is then desirably bent at 41 over the free edge 42 of the container, thus sealing this edge. Further folding, as at 43 and 44 (Figures 12 and 13) places the edge 42 in the center of the fold, where it is further protected against leakage in or out.

When the end of. the tab 38 is pulled to open the dispenser, it will first unwrap the folds of the walls of the container, just as in the forms previously described, but the container walls will be spread differently. In the forms spreader forces the walls of the container apart as it is drawn out bypulling the tab.

In the'forms of Figures 6 to 14, however, the tab itself spreads the container walls. This is accom-' plished because the side 45 of the double fold 40..is fairly stiff, and when the tab 38 is pulled, is drawn up about the fold 46 as a pivot, forcing apart the container walls at the mouth. Further pull on the tab 38 straightens out the tabto the condiof Figures 1 to 5, thetion shown in Figure 1, and the container may then be dischargedreadily.

It is of course obvious that I may or may not place a spreader on the portion of the tab folded inside the container, depending for one thing on the stiffness of the tab in this form, and that I may or may not associate with the tab a paper or like tab to keep the folded metal walls from coming in contact.

The flat form 47 illustrated in Figures 15 to 18 is particularly convenient for carrying in a pocket or flat wallet and is well suited as a container for medicines such as powdered solids for single definite doses or tablets each of which may comprise a single dose. After opening the user may reseal the container with my tab opener.

The flatness of the container, in addition to making the container more convenient for carrying, is advantageous in permitting definite or standard dimensions of the container and of boxes for storing a quantity of charged containers irrespective of considerable variation in the individual charges.

The containers 47 may be charged by druggists or manufacturers, one end only needing to be provided with a pull tab 48. The other end 49 may be sealed in any conventional manner, as by folding.

The action of the pull tab in the form of Figures 15 to 18 is the same asinthe form of Fig ures 1 to 5.

It frequently happens in medicine that different ingredients of a dose need to be kept separate until used, and the form illustrated in Figure 19 is particularly well suited for this.

In this form the compartments 50 and 51 are separated in any suitable way, as by pressing the opposing walls of the container together between' the compartments as illustrated at 52. While there may be any desired number of these compartments, it is believed that more usually there will be only two compartments, for use with medicines such as Seidlitz powders where different solids are charged in the two compartments to be dissolved separately and mixed in solution by the user.

Preferably each end compartment of the container is then provided with a pull tab 48.

The closure between adjacent compartments, whether or not one of them isan intermediate compartment, may be readily opened after opening the more forward compartment by pushing in a suitable separating blade, for example that of a table knife or paper cutter, after which the more rearward compartment can discharge through the more forward compartment already emptied. Or of course the intermediate compartments could be provided with the tab opening closure of Figure 5.

I believe that I am the first to open a container sealed by folding by pulling on a tab included in the fold, and also to spread the container walls by the same pull used in opening.

I also believe that I am the first to close the bottom of an extruded metal container by a continuous end wall as distinguished from a folded or clamped seal.

It will be evident that pull on the tab performs several functions, which may be combined in a single tab or performed separately. Initially the pull unfolds the fold in the walls, producing substantially straight walls. Further pull scrapes the tab between the interior walls of the fold, removing the remaining irregularities in the walls. Finally, the pull spreads the walls apart.

In view of my invention and disclosure variations and modifications to meet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident to others skilled in the art, to obtain all or part of the benefits of my invention without copying the structure shown, and I, therefore, claim all such in so far as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent isz- 1. A flexible walled container adapted to be closed by convergence of the walls and a wall spreader within the container adapted to be drawn from the container to separate the walls.

2. In a container which has been closed by folding its walls, a pull tab included in the fold and having a portion accessible to the grasp of the user and a spreader on the tab within the container.

3. In a container which has been closed by folding its walls, a pull tab included in the fold accessible to the grasp of the user and adapted to laterally press against the container Walls to spread the walls during withdrawal.

4. An extruded metal container having an end closed by folding the opposing end walls and an opener strip having one portion between the said walls within the fold and another portion outside the folded end, so that a user may unfold and open the said end by pulling out the strip.

5. In a container of the character indicated, a closure including a pull tab having one portion inside the closed container, another portion outside the closed container for opening the container and an intermediate portion folded with the end of the container.

6. An extruded metal container, a spreader within the container near the discharge end thereof, a flexible pull tab engaging the spreader at an inner portion and presenting another portion outside the container, and a folding closure of said end including an intermediate portion of the strip.

7. An extruded metal container having an end closed by folding the opposing walls thereof, a flexible strip doubled on itself, and an enlargement within the doubling fold and within the container, said strip having an intermediate portion folding with the opposing walls and a portion outside the container.

8. An extruded metal container having an end closed by folding the opposing walls thereof, a flexible strip doubled on itself, and an enlargement within the doubling fold and within the container, said strip extending substantially across the interior of the discharge end of the container, having an intermediate portion f01d-. ing with the opposing walls and a portion outside the container.

9. An extruded metal container having an end closed by folding the opposing walls thereof, a flexible strip doubled on itself,- and an enlarge ment within the doubling fold and within the container, said strip having an intermediate por- Lee ate point; dividingthe. container into spaced "compartments and opening means common to both compartments and operating progressively upon one compartment before operation upon the other.

12. An extruded metal container comprising.

open end, an opening strip having an inner portion within the container and a portion outside of the container, said container having opposing walls at an intermediate point pressed together upon the strip, thereby dividing the container into adjacent compartments and having a folding closure at said end including the strip and means whereby the pulling out of the strip opensthe end closure and opens the intermediate closure between the compartments.

14. An extruded metal container having an open end, a pull tab having an inner portion within the container and a portion outside of the container, spreaders' connected to the strip at spaced points within the container, one of the said points being adjacent the open end, the

oppdsing walls of the container being pressed upon the intermediate strip forwardly adjacent the inner opener member, the strip having slack intermediate the point of compression and the.

other spreader and the end having a folding closure beyond the second opener member.

15. An extruded metal container of generally flattened section and having a folding closure at each end in combination with a, pull tab within' one of the folding closures thepull tab extending laterally of the container and lengthwise of the fold to engage the .folded. walls and unwind them.

16. An extruded metal tubular container of flattened contour, divided into compartments by intermediately pressing together of the opposing walls, a pull tab at each end of the container having inner and outer portions respectively inside and outside of the container and a folding closure at each end including the tab.

17. In a container whose open end has been I closed by folding its walls, a tab integral with the walls extended beyondthe open end, doubled against itself betweenthe vtalls, included in the fold and accessible to the grasp of. the user.

18. An extruded metal container having a folded closure therefor and an opening device for the container lying between the walls of the container at thefold, folded with it and larger in cross section at'a point within the container than at the .folded portion.

HENRY SAUINIEB DABLINGTON. 

